Automatic weighing machine



H.V.ADAM.Y AuToMAnc wElGHlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR`3192I.

UNITED STATES IParrsur omer..

:l-IENRI` VINCENT ADAM, OF DJOCJA, JAVA.

AUTOMATIC wnierrine MACHINE.

Application filed March 3,

To (AZZ 'zo/710m t may `conce/Hi Be `it known that l,llnNnr'VrNonN'rADAM, asubject oi the Queen ot the Netherlands, andresiding at Djocja, ,l ava, ,have invented Certain new and useiulimprovementsy in Automatic lVeighing ll/lachines, (for which I haveapplied for patent in'Holland,` July 28, 19111; Germany, December 111,19.15 land, December 16, 1915; Holland, `May 11, 19171;` i'ermany,October 9, 1917; Germany, October 15, 19.17; England, October 18,1917;Denmark', January 26,1918; Swedemdanuary28, 1918; Switzerland, February9, 19.18; Austria, February 18, 1918; Norway, February 27, 1918;Hungary, March 1, 19.18; Belgium, March 30, 1918; Spain, AprillO, 1918;

ll a.zil, Aprilli", 1918; Argentine, April 18,

1918; Australia, April 23,v 1918; New Zealand, April 29, 1918; SouthAfrica, May G, 1918; Trinidad, ll/Slay. 1, 1918;1eru, May 7,1918;,ltaly, May 10, 1918; Portugal, May 29, 1918; Finland, July 10,1918; Egypt, July` 25, 1918;; France, August 31, 1918; Ohile, September:21, 1918; Ceylon, October 13,(1918; New Zealand, October 29, 1918; Cuba,November 16, 1918; Ceylon, December 1G, 1918; Mexico, in 19.18;Hongkong, in 1918; Straits Settlements,in 191.8; and Barbados, in 1918,)ot which the ollowingis a speciiication. y

This inventionrelates to automatic weigh ing apparatus especially forliquids, having two tiltably mounted weighing troughs which arealternately iilled and discharged.y

The weighing apparatus according` to the invention is1ol" the above typeandig primarily characterized in this vthateach trough is provided withtwo pawls or the like `which are electromagnetieally controlled by theweighing apparatus by means oit contact members, one pawl being adaptedto hold the respective trough in the filling position, while the otherpawl holds it .inthe discharge position. A. further objectiot theinventionis to allow the troughto returninto its upright positionexactly in the moment wherein the desired tare weight has been attainedatter discharge of the liquid. A still further object. of the inventionis to avoid shocks owing tothe sudden discharge ott the liquid when thetrough istilted. i

The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of the invention by. wayof example, the electricaldevices being indicated dia grammaticallySpecification of Letters luttent.A

Patented May 16, `1922.

192i.l serial No. 449,535.

Figurel shows an elevation ot the weighino)V apparatus and Figure 2 asectionalviewfot the device provided :tor regulating the liquid iced;

Figure 3 shows a device` havingptor its object to allow the trough toreassume its upright position exactly in, the moment wherein the desiredtare weight has been attained after discharge of the liquid, and

Figure 4 illustrates a device having for its object to avoidshocks/owing tothe suddendischarge ot the liquid when the trough istilted. i 4 i For` carrying the invention into ei'tect two duplicateapparatus are used which co-oper* ate with other.` devices common toboth. One oit the said apparatuswill now bedescribed and the variousparts such as al, 1, and so torthin the one apparatus are `duplicatedinthe other apparatus andjindicated `by (i2, L2, yand so on.

Aweighingtrough,01 is iixedfiby means of journals 1, on the platforms alof an ordinary weighing machine.` The liquid `to be weighed is ted into'the respective troughs by the feed tube .d andthevalve casing econtaining a large fiapvalve g and asmall iiapvalve s. (Figure Q).According to the position of the flap-valves theliquid is ted to'onetrough orthe other.

The dial, h1 is preferably provided with a scale with which the pointer711 3o-,acts in order to indicate the weightoii the liquid `contained inthe trough and is provided with three. contacts Z1, m1, a?, arrangedtoco-aet with the pointer in such way thatZ1 indicates the weight o'ttheliquid remaining as tare weight in 'the trough zitter each discharge,oit the latter, while nl corresponds to the sum o't net and tareweights, inl being arranged at some distance beit'ore al.

Each weighing` trough is provided witha disc having two projections .orshoulders, the pawls 01u and p1 being arranged to co-act with `thelatter. The weighing troughA is kept in its tipped position by the pawl01 andin itsupright position by the pawl p1.

The shape and .the dimensions of the trough are such thaty when it isempty it has a tendencyto assume the position for being `filledwhilewhen once filled it has atendency to tip towards the receivingtrough.` rllhis effect may be realizedin a simple manner by providing aliquidtight partition wall r1. The lateral displacement ot thetrough,

until the right moment.y is pre\f*ented by the pawls o1 and pl.

The electric connections oi thc contacts are :such that Z1 'toi-ins partot a circuit comprismav the magnet coil actuating` the pawl` o1, whileu1 is connected with the circuit conu'irising the magnet coil actuatingthe pawi. p1. lu order to regulate the liquid `leed in accordance withthe tipping; motion oit the weighing troughs each et the iiap valves yand can be actuated by a couple ol2 magnets g1, ,(12, and 71:15, t,diagrammatically indicated in Figure 2.

Vif he magnet g1, actuates the Hap valve g/ iu such a 'way that thelatter is swung to the le ti. (Figure jl) when the magnet coil currentis closed. The magnet 751 actuates the llap valve 7': in a correspondingmanner, while g2 and 7F arc arranged to actuate the flap valves in theopposite sence.

The magnet 7i:1 torms part ot a circuit coinprifugr the contact n? andthe magnet l'or actuating the pawl p1, while the magnet 9^- torn'is partot a circuit comprising` the (.:ontact m1. In the same way the magnet7i:2

Yforms part o't a circuit comprising the contact n2 and the magnet toractuating` the pawl p2. while the magnet (/2 forms part oit a circuitcomprising` -the contact m2. The current required tor energizing themagnet coils is supplied by the sources of current t1 and t2.

The apparatus works as follows:-

lllhen the trough (f2 is lilled and the trough c1 discharged into thereceiving trough accin-ding;- to Figure l, the pointer z' sinks whiie i2rises. As soon as l touches the contact 7/1 the magnet correspondingwith pawl o1 is energized and the pawl removed, the trough clmnsequently assuming' its upright position in which it is secured by thepawl p1. tter that the pointer touches the contact in? thus causing thecoil oit the magnet .//2 to be energized 1 the larife 'lla p valve .f/is ciuiseipiently swuiur to the rig-ht (Figure l) into the position y sothat the main liow ot the liquid directed to the trough c". htcanvvhilcthe small. v(lap val ve 7.: allows a feeble low ot liquid to pass to thetrough c2 thus causing' the pointer 2'? to advance slowly towards thecontact u2 and hnally close the circuit eiierpgizinlt;` the magnet 7a2so that the small tiap valve is also swungto the rig-ht; the magnetcorresponding with the pawl 792 is energized at the same moment causingthe troughio" to tip and ijliscliarpe its contents into the receiving`trough. The pointer if sinks again while 'il rises7 the descrilfiedproeess being` repeated inversely with regard to the trouirhs.

lt will be clear that a continuo s and automatic weighing process isobtained in this way.

lt is obvious that instead o'l the pointer i Aany other member movingowingl to an in crease or a decrease ot the weight ot the trough may beused lor closing or breaking the electric circuits 'for controllingthesaid pawls, and that the invention is not limited to vfeioliiiig`apparatus ot the type described but that it may also be employed .incombination with apparatus `wherein a plurality ot weights are providedlor successively loa ding a .lever as the weight of the load increases,such as is described in the German patent specilication No. 121,964 cl.4l2-d- The purpose ol' arranging the small Hap valve 7c in addition tothe large valve g is to regulate the completion ot the weighing' to anicety aiter the trough has quickly been. filled; it will however beunderstood that it is also important that-the desired tare weight beexactly attained aitter the trough has quickly been discharged. Nowaccord ing to the present invention, the rate ot discharge ot liquidtrom the trough is reduced somo time be'tore the weight ol 'the trougrhwith its contents has lallen to the desired total tare weight. li`romthis moment the liquid still contained in the troiurh flows out in athin stream, which favorably tlects the exactness oi.' the weiglu'ng;operation. so that only with this improvement the weighingapparatus may'fully answer the requirements.

Figure Si represents a side elevation, partly in section, o'li aweighing trough in its discharge position provided with the newarrangement. c is the trough. which is pivo` tally mounted ou trunnions7), and yrom which the liquid may be discharged over the outflow ormouth 3. At a certain distance Ylroi'n the mouth l, a ridge 4; issecured to thc inner wall oit the trough, the said ridire extending;through the Awhole length oi` the trough and beine' pierced by acomparatively narrow discharge pipe 5. The arrruurement is such that itthe iilled trough is tilted thc liquid contained therein lis at lirsttree to liow over thc ridire flA and out at the mouth il; a certain(piantil'y ol" liquid however. e.\: reeditar that which should remain inthe trough to 'torni the extra tare7 is withheld by the ridge il; in thedischarge position ot the trough, The latter quantity must be discharged through the narrow pipe so that at last the weight oit thetrough with its contents is reduced so gradually that the trough canreturn into its filling` position just Vin the moment `wherein thedesired total tare weight has been attained. The quantity ot liquiddischarged through the narrow pi pe 5 during' the erection of the troughmay safely be neglected, so that the result ot the weighing` operationmay be held to b absolutely correct.

lit desired the ridge `le on thc inner wall oi the trough might beprovided with a plurality oi narrow discharge pipes, or simply with oneor a plurality ol" discharge holes. Neither is itneeessary for the ridgeto extend tothe side walls ot' the trough. ,A 'further objectionableteatureot weighing apparatus with `tiltably mounted troughs is the tactthat when the lilled trough is tilted, the liquid contained `thereiniilows out` with a considerable velocity, whereby the weighing apparatusproper is liable to damage owing to the shock produced `by the suddendischarge, and lthe correct indication ot the weight isinterliered with.This objectionable feature might be avoided, for in staiice,1b'y theprovision ot' mechanical means, but thiswouldentail a seriouscomplication of the apparatus.

According to the present invention the object aimed at can be realizedin a simple and eilicient manner by subdividing the troughs by means ofone or more preferably adjustable partitions into two or morecompartments which are in communication with each other through acomparatively narrow passage near the bottom.

Fig. l illustrates, by -Way oi example only a crosssectional elevationoi' a weighing trough in its tilted position, provided with the newarrangement.

c is the trough which is pivotally mounted on trunnions Z) the outflowor mouth being designated by 3. Now, according to the present invention,a partition 6 is provided in said trough in such a manner that itsubstantially vertical when the latter assumes its upright position, thesaid partition being adapted to be raised and lowered whereby it isguided in grooves 7, it being secured in any desired position by meansof a bolt 8.` Between the lower edge ot the partition 7 and the bottomot the trough c,

a comparatively narrow opening 9 is lett` which may be regulated byraising or lowering thepartition 6.

lVlien the trough 0, after being lille/d in its upright position, istilted, the liquid in the compartment opposite the mouth 3 will beprevented 'from suddenly flowing out ot said compartment owing to therestricted dimensions of the opening 9, so that it will prevent a suddenand excessive displacement ot the centre ot gravity towardsthc overflowedge 3. By properly adjusting the size ot the passage 9 in connectionwith the viscosity ot y'the liquid, the entire movement of the troughwill take place very smoothly and gradually and shocks will beabsolutely avoided.

Although I have described and claimed my invention in respect of anapparatus having two weighing troughs it is to be understood that it isequally applicable to, and the claims are intended to covei', a weighingapparatus having two sets ot tiltably mounted weighing troughs, one setof troughs being filled while the other set is discharging.

The apparatus may also be adapted for weighing substances ot apulverulent or granular nature by slightly modifying thev constructionet the feed regulating device.

Having'now particularly described and ascertained `the nature ot `mysaid invention Aand in what manner `the same is yto bc per-` ioimerhldeclare that what l claim is l. An automatic weighing apparatusincluding two` tiltably ymounted weighing troughs adapted `to bealternately i'illed and discharged, weighing meanstoperatively"associatedcwith each troiigli,-two locking nicmbers foreach trough, one lockingmember functioning to hold a troughin iuprightpositioirand the other locking .member tunetioningto hold the trough intilted position, electro-magnetic `means 'for :actuating said lockingmembers, electric circuits in which the electro-magnetic means arearranged, and contacts for the electric circuits actuated by theweighing means tor causing the unlocking of one ot said locking memberswhen a predetermined quantity of material has been placed ina trough andttor unlocking the other locking member aiter a predetermined .quantityof the material has been discharged trom a trough.

2. l'n weighting apparatus as claimed in claim l, the provisionin thetroughs of partitions to forni a plurality ot compartments in eachtrough in communication with each other through a comparatively narrowopening near the bottom ot the trough, substantially as described.

5. .in weighing apparatus as claimed in, claim 2, the provision in thetroughs of partitions to form a plurality otl compartments in eachtroueh in communication with each other through a comparatively narrowopening` near the bottom ot the trough.

6. In weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 3, the provision in thetroughs of pai'- titions to torni a plurality oi compartments in eachtrough in communication with each other through a comparatively narrowopening near the bottom oit the trough. p

7. In a weighing apparatus, a plurality of 4tiltably mounted-weighingtroughs adapted to be alternately filled. and discharged, weighing meansoperatively associated with each ot said troughs, a plurality of lockingmembers for holding each trough in upright or tilted position, and meansactuated by the ieo lli() rfeiglu'ng` means iter operatingl seid lockingmembers to release one o'l said looking` members when :L trough Containsa predetermined quantity ot' the um'terial being` measured und to:ietunte another looking member to permit :i trough to reti'lrn to itsupright posh tion utter it hus discharged its contents.

55. An automatic weighing apparatus inohuling` two weight seules, utiltably mouuted trough Carried by each Weight seele, two lookingmembers for ezteh trough, one looking member being adapted to secure thetrough in upright position and the other locking member 'functioning toholcl the trough in tilted position, a discharge con# tailler arrangedbetween the troughs and HENRI VINCENT ADAM.

